There is still a long way to go until the NBA playoffs are done, but more than half the league is focused on the offseason already. In the NBA, everyone knows that the best teams win with superstars. Think about it, you cannot name an NBA team who is good without a superstar.
How do you get these super stars? If your team is lucky enough to draft one of these top prospects, it’s more of an exception to the rule. But another model is to sign super stars in free agency. The Heat did it with LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Who is the next version of the Heat?
Either way, there is a plethora of talent available in free agency, and basketball fans everywhere will be hoping their team signs one or more of these players.
Without further ado, the top free agents of 2014:
Guards
Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns (Restricted)
Bledsoe was half of a dynamic duo in Phoenix with Goran Dragic, but it seems that he might move on. The best guard in this year’s free agent class averaged 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game this year.
Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers
Stephenson has been called the best player on the Pacers, even with Paul George there. If he does not re-sign, someone will get a very solid guard. Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during the regular season.
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry will miss Toronto, Photo by John E. Sokolowski, USA Today Sports Images
Lowry is part of the tandem that led the Raptors to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The former Villanova point guard averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game during the regular year.
Note: Dwayne Wade could be a free agent as well, but realistically he is likely to stay in Miami
Forwards
LeBron James, Miami Heat (Early-Termination Option)
James is the best player in the NBA, although he might not win the MVP award this season. Any team that signs him will become an instant title contender. James averaged 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in 2013-14.
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks (Early-Termination Option)
Despite missing the playoffs, Anthony is still one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. If he can go to a team with a solid cast around him, he can return to the NBA playoffs. Melo averaged 27.4 points per game to go along with eight rebounds this season.
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
It’s hard to imagine Nowitzki playing anywhere else, but his contract is up after this season and he could be on the move. He may have the best shot in NBA history among seven-footers. Dirk averaged 21.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this year.
Centers
Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons (Restricted)
Monroe is a center playing power forward in Detroit with Andre Drummond in front of him. But on a team where he is the main rebounder he could bring in a dozen boards per game. Monroe averaged 15.2 points and nine rebounds this season.
Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
Despite health problems and a horrific season in Los Angeles, Gasol is still one of the better centers in the NBA in terms of production. He’ll be best suited on a team with a presence under the rim already. Gasol averaged 17.4 points and 9.7 rebounds this season.
Marcin Gortat, Washington Wizards
Gortat has been underrated for his entire career, he has shown that he could put up numbers when given the opportunity, and one team will be adding a valuable piece at center this summer. Gortat averaged 13 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season.
Best Player
LeBron James
James is the best player on the planet, and has been for awhile. Why? He averages 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and just under a block per game. In his career, James has won two NBA Championships and four MVP awards.
But, the scary part is that he is getting better. This season, James shot 56.7 percent from the floor, which is absurd for a forward who takes a lot of jump shots. James makes everyone around him a better player, which can only be said about a handful of players in the history of the game. Adding James to any team makes them an instant title contender, which cannot be said about any other player in this free agent class.
Best Value
Gordon Hayward is going to make one team happy. Photo by Brad Rempel, USA Today Sports Images
Gordon Hayward
All the focus will be on the big names like James, Anthony, Stephenson, Nowitzki, Bledsoe, Lowry, Duncan, Bosh, and possibly even Wade. One team will sneak in and land Gordon Hayward, who may end up being the best value in this free agent class. He could command a max-contract, but with all these other players needing to be signed, Hayward may have to take a lesser deal, and that is a win for the team he signs with.
Hayward averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game last season on a bad Utah Jazz team. That stat line is coveted everywhere in the NBA, as only a select few can contribute 16 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. Only three players other than Hayward accomplished that last season. Who were they? Michael Carter-Williams, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.
If he can land with a team who has a core in place, Hayward will be the best value in free agency this summer.
Bold Prediction
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony
LBJ will choose his early-termination option, making him a free agent. Then, the New York Knicks will re-sign Carmelo Anthony and then…LeBron James signs in New York to play under Phil Jackson’s new reign as Knicks’ boss. Will the triangle offense work with LeBron and Carmelo? The trapezoid offense would work with ‘Bron and ‘Melo, let alone Phil Jackson’s go-to.
All-FA Team
Now, not one team in the NBA has the finances to pull this off, but it’s always fun to look at the best possible team that could be formed with the upcoming free agent class.
The one negative with the following team is obvious though. There is only one ball, but this would be one of the best teams ever assembled. Get your video games out and experiment.
PG Eric Bledsoe
SG Lance Stephenson
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF LeBron James
C Dirk Nowitzki
As we just detailed yesterday, the NBA draft will be fun, but 2014 free agency will be even better.
Information from Hoops Hype and Basketball Reference.
Photo by Steve Mitchell, USA Today Sports Images